Velna Brown

Thursday, October 16, 2008

CHARLESTON -- Velna Cooper Brown, 88, died Oct. 14, 2008, in Ponte Vedra, Fla., where she had lived with her daughters for the last 10 months.

Born Aug. 6, 1920, in Brinkley, Ark., to the late the Rev. Allen Britton and May Lawrence Cooper, she had lived in Charleston since 1933 where she was a member of the First Baptist Church. She attended Ouachita Baptist University, and returned to Charleston where she taught music in Mississippi County's rural schools. She also taught piano and organ to children and adults through the area and was organist for the United Methodist Church for 12 years. An active member of the Charleston community, she was the founder of the Mississippi County Historical Society and a charter member of the Junior Study Club, serving as coordinator of the musical programming for the annual style show. She was elected to serve on the Charleston Board of Education, had served as secretary for the Mississippi County Draft board and was the city clerk of Charleston for 17 years until her retirement in 1991. She had also been an active member in the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Katherine Boone Music Club and the Charleston Business and Professional Women's Club.

She was married to Audley A. Brown, who preceded her in death.

One brother, Allen A. Cooper, also preceded her in death.

Survivors include: three daughters and two sons-in-law, Susan and William Bandy of St. Louis, and Betty Warford and Catherine and David Bird of Ponte Vedra; one brother, Dr. James F. Cooper of Charleston; five sisters, Julia Warren and Betty Hearnes of Charleston, Dr. Jennie Cooper and Jane Stacy of Cape Girardeau and Rose Marie Jordan of Greer, S.C.; and four grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. tonight at the First Baptist Church in Charleston where services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday with Tim Vowels, pastor of Incarnate Word Catholic Church in Chesterfield and the Rev. Michael Brewer, pastor of the First Baptist Church, officiating.

Burial will follow in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery under the direction of McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston.

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Memorial contributions may be made to:

The First Baptist Church Organ Fund301 S. MainCharleston, Missouri 63834